BEWITCHING THE WORLD
As we look back on Cynthia Erivo’s rise to fame, her teachers tell us how they knew the South London girl would be a star
Cynthia glitters at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures gala last October (far right); and shows off her Tony Award for her performance in The Color Purple in New York in 2016, alongside beloved mum Edith (together above). She sings in Guys & Dolls (below) at La Retraite school in London (below right)
When Cynthia Erivo took part in an exclusive photoshoot with hello! in 2014, the actress – selected as one of our rising stars – was described as “a diminutive powerhouse”. Since then, her talent and charisma have taken her to greater heights than she could ever have dreamed.
Her performance as Elphaba in box-office smash Wicked – history’s highest-grossing film based on a Broadway musical – is being tipped for Oscar success, while she was also nominated for a Best Actress award at the Golden Globes.
In short, her career continues to defy gravity… and it all started at a small secondary school in South London.
Born in Stockwell, Cynthia – who turns 38 this week – was raised with her younger sister Stephanie by their single mother Edith, who always knew she would be a success.